Getting paid to care for a family member in Alberta

Alberta's Self-Managed Care (SMC) program is explicit on this point: family members, friends, and informal caregivers are not allowed to be hired as paid care providers under SMC. This is stated in the program materials, so it is not a grey area. SMC exists to let you choose and manage your own paid care staff — it is not a route to compensating a relative.

Who qualifies

  • • An Alberta resident with a valid healthcare card.
  • • Living in a community setting.
  • • Assessed as having unmet home care needs.
  • • Stable health with predictable care needs.
  • • Willing and able to take on employer responsibilities — or represented by someone with legal authority who can.

How the funding works

Funding is individually assessed based on a home care assessment. There is no fixed published figure — the amount reflects the hours and type of care your assessment identifies, and it must be used to hire eligible paid providers.

How to apply

Call Health Link at 811 to request a home care assessment. An Alberta Health Services case manager will assess your needs and can discuss whether Self-Managed Care is an appropriate delivery option.

If you are caring for a relative in Alberta

Because SMC cannot pay you, the practical questions become different ones: what respite is available, what tax credits you may qualify for, and how well your caregiving hours and expenses are documented. Those are worth looking at separately rather than waiting on a program that excludes family.

Official source

albertahealthservices.ca — Self-Managed Care

Caring in a different province? See the Canada hub.

See what else you may qualify for
This is general information to help you get started — not legal or tax advice. For your specific situation, your provincial health authority or a qualified professional can confirm the current rules and exactly what applies to you.